Ministers answerable for gender affairs and equality from CARICOM Member States and Affiliate Members are at the moment reviewing the draft CARICOM Gender Equality Technique, “Stepping It Up: A Technique to Obtain Gender Equality within the Caribbean Neighborhood”, through the Forty-Sixth Assembly of the Council for Human and Social Growth (COHSOD) – Gender.
The Assembly, which is being convened on 20-21 November 2023 in Barbados, reaffirms Member States’ dedication to gender equality with the overarching purpose of offering a technique that holistically addresses the problem.
UN companions below the Regional Highlight Caribbean Programme, together with UN Ladies and the United Nations Growth Programme (UNDP), are additionally collaborating within the COHSOD.
In opening remarks, Alison Drayton, Assistant Secretary-Common, Human and Social Growth, CARICOM Secretariat, said that the participation of Ministers is indicative of Member States’ robust dedication to gender equality and their partnership to advance frequent regional aspirations for a resilient, thriving Neighborhood.
She reminded the assembly that the method to evaluate the Technique commenced with the Thirty-First Particular Assembly of the COHSOD – Gender held just about in October. “This Forty-sixth COHSOD is being held below the theme “Inclusive and Equitable Futures: A Gender-Responsive Method Submit COVID”, said Ms Drayton, “the theme couldn’t have been timelier for the Area as we acknowledge the distinctive challenges and alternatives introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic”.
She famous that it’s a vital alternative to take inventory of the Area’s progress in reaching regional and worldwide commitments and the Sustainable Growth Targets (SDGs). “It underscores our Area’s dedication to gender equality, restoration, and resilience whereas selling the well being and well-being of our residents, significantly ladies and marginalised populations,” said Ms Drayton.
The Assistant Secretary-Common underscored that the assembly is just not being held in a vacuum and defined that it builds on the selections of the Fortieth Assembly of the Council on Gender held in June 2021, when Member States agreed to assist the nationwide consultations throughout the Area on the draft CARICOM Gender Equality Technique.
She famous that after widespread conferences, consultations, and validations, each digital and in-person, throughout the Area over seventeen (17) months, together with a two-week extension, this COHSOD will search approval of the Technique. Ms Drayton defined that the Technique is a roadmap for Member States to “mainstream” gender and gives a regional coordinated method to realize gender equality and empower all ladies and ladies, which aligns with SDG Aim 5. She emphasised that whereas no nation has achieved gender equality, the Technique might be a superb coordination and implementation software.
“Allow us to all keep in mind that equality isn’t just a purpose; it’s the inspiration of an inclusive, thriving, simply, and resilient society,” said Ms Drayton, “as we embark on this historic journey in the direction of first approving, launching and implementing the CARICOM Gender Equality Technique, allow us to envision a Area the place each girl and woman stands as a beacon of empowerment.”
Gloria Thomas, Minister with accountability for Social Growth and Gender Affairs, Grenada, served as Chair. She emphasised that the dialogue across the Technique and the Area’s future should not solely be inclusive and equitable however profoundly attentive to the wants of all genders within the post-COVID world. “As we replicate on the twenty fifth Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Motion and confront the extraordinary challenges introduced on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we should recognise that the time has come for us to weave these two profoundly totally different occasions collectively right into a unified tapestry of progress,” said Minister Thomas.
Thomas additionally referred to the escalating incidents of gender-based violence through the top of the pandemic when ladies had been pressured to shelter in place with their abusers. She famous reported charges as excessive as 125% in some Member States. She additionally said that the Area continues to expertise the financial fallout from inflationary costs, the lack of jobs and family incomes, all of which fall disproportionately on ladies, a lot of whom are heads of single-parent households, which accounts for 40% within the Area in accordance with UN Ladies information.
Minister Thomas said that the timing of the Technique couldn’t be extra opportune. Solely seven (7) years stay for the goal date for reaching the SDGs, and it’s evident that the worldwide group has encountered setbacks primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She famous that no nation is inside attain of eradicating Intimate Accomplice Violence. She highlighted that regardless of the dimensions of the issue and the unacceptable developments globally and within the Area, the monetary commitments to forestall and eradicate gender-based violence stay restricted at greatest.
Thomas additionally acknowledged the initiative of the European Union in funding the groundbreaking Spotlight Initiative Programme. The Programme invested 500 million Euros in eradicating violence and dangerous practices worldwide, 50 million of which has been invested within the Caribbean.
She underscored that the draft CARICOM Gender Equality Technique is a dedication to equality, justice, and sustainable growth. Ms Thomas defined that it acknowledges the progress remodeled the previous 25 years for the reason that Beijing Declaration, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the urgency to speed up efforts in the direction of the SDGs. She emphasised that by embracing the Technique, all 20 CARICOM Member States, 15 full members and 5 Associates are taking a monumental step in the direction of a extra inclusive, equitable, and affluent future the place the rights and dignity of all, no matter gender, are upheld and celebrated.
What’s the draft CARICOM Gender Equality Technique?
The draft CARICOM Regional Gender Equality Technique gives the framework for focused interventions delicate to the distinctive challenges confronted by our Caribbean nations, accelerating progress towards the SDGs. The Area is wealthy in variety, tradition, and resilience. Nevertheless, gender disparities persist in financial participation, political illustration, training, governance, the setting and social inclusion. The draft Gender Equality Technique for CARICOM is anchored with all the problems highlighted in regional consultations and validations, each digital and in-person, paying specific consideration to regional nuances and challenges and making certain its implementation might be contextually related.
The Technique prioritises the financial empowerment of girls, equitable entry to training and lifelong studying and healthcare for all, in addition to the elimination of violence in opposition to ladies and ladies who’re disproportionately affected by the scourge.
Moreover, the Technique promotes a multi-stakeholder method involving governments, civil society, the personal sector, and worldwide organisations. Collaboration and partnerships are central to addressing the multifaceted nature of gender inequality successfully.
The central purpose is the implementation of a Technique that gives a roadmap for reaching the Area’s imaginative and prescient of a violence-free and peaceable existence for each Caribbean citizen.
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